One might imagine the ability to switch between a giant mecha robot and a sports car – both equipped with enough weaponry to fuel a global conflict – might be something of an advantage when attempting to protect the world from invasion.

In Transformers: Dark of the Moon, however, it's hard not to feel that a simple, unequipped human might get further on such a quest than these lumbering giants.

Indeed, if there's one word that sums up EA's latest ode to all things robotic, it's 'slow'.

Two become dumb

Transformers: Dark of the Moon simply never gets going, taking some standard ideas and lumping them together with little nous or creativity.

Split between walking and driving sections, the game involves shooting down everything in your path. In terms of plot, the planet is being attacked by Decepticons and Optimus Prime and Bumblebee are the only things standing in their way.

It's the levels tackled on foot that are the most derivative.

Here, EA has tapped into the side-scrolling model of old, with Decepticons approaching from both sides as you make your way from left to right. Taking them out is either a case of firing your weapon from a distance (mapped to '*') or performing a melee attack or two by hammering the '5' key.

Pick up enough yellow Energon blocks and you can also perform a special move that wipes out scores of enemies in one go – providing they're in line with you, that is.

Location, location, location

In fact, lining up your attacks is Transformers: Dark of the Moon's biggest problem.

While you have to be directly in front of your opponent for your melee attacks to make contact, they can hammer away at your health from any angle, providing they're in the general vicinity.

What's more, to reposition yourself to take them out you first have to back away before getting in line – a rather lengthy act that's both a hassle and a hindrance when you're involved in a battle.

Driving, too, has its fiddly moments. It's standard in mobile driving games for your input to be limited to shifting left and right, but in Transformers: Dark of the Moon you have to constantly accelerate with the '2' key, turning combat into an annoying distraction.

In truth, none of these misdemeanors undermines the experience entirely.

However, EA's latest effort feels rushed, with a collection of niggles putting the brakes on Transformers: Dark of the Moon's momentum before it's had a chance to get going.